Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Love and Other Cages is a thrilling YA romance novel and the second book in the “Love and Other Sins” series. The story follows high school senior Mina Arkova, whose life is upended when she becomes entangled with a crime syndicate and gets abducted. Her boyfriend, Oliver Mondell, who has a past of abandonment issues, becomes determined to rescue her. The story is fast-paced and unpredictable and can be read as a standalone, as there is sufficient backstory to easily follow the narrative.

Ares’ writing is rich with vivid descriptive prose, and her talent in capturing the characters’ raw emotions so intricately is evident. The story is told in a compelling dual narrative that provides readers an immersive perspective into the motivations and inner workings of both Mina and Oliver. Mina is a fearless protagonist whose courage in harrowing situations makes her very admirable. Oliver’s unwavering love and commitment to save her nicely balance out the heavier elements of the story.

Although the book is marketed as YA, it includes some mature content, including violence and sexual assault, which may be more suitable for adults. The middle section of the story drags in parts, with some scenes lingering too long, and readers will have to be patient before the pacing picks up again. The story escalates in intensity in the second half, with a few pleasing twists that keep the story engaging and interesting. The ending is open to interpretation and thought-provoking and may frustrate readers who desire more resolution for the characters—but it also sets up great anticipation for the next installment.

Overall this book is an intense thriller with a compelling high-stakes romance. The audiobook is performed by the author and actor Will Collyer, who deliver authentic and emotionally intense performances that keep listeners fully engaged. If you enjoy intense thrillers, complex characters, and romantic subplots, this book is a great option to consider!

I listened to the audiobook version of this through NetGalley. The narrating was fantastic and I enjoyed the dual narrators throughout the plot. The plot itself just wasn’t for me.

I’m surprised this is considered a young adult read as some of the content seemed pretty advanced for YA. In the beginning I was a little bit bored. Toward the end of the book I started enjoying the plot and wondering what was going to happen.

The ending fell flat for me and left me with lots of questions.

I love the narration immensely. I am just maybe not the right listener for this. I was expecting something else. It was good, I was just feeling jaded. I know other people are going to love this one.

Thank you SERA press and the author for an advanced listen copy of this book.

I read the first one in preparation for this book. I do not know where I expected this to go but it wasn't this direction. Talk about a surprise. The cliff hanger ending was actually so wild.

A heart wrenching romance, with an insane mafia thriller twist.

Read if you like the idea of the movie Taken where the girl actually can help herself.

Well narrated book …like a picturesque romance and action and drama.
A good story about young true love

I was not aware of the first part/prequel until after I finished reading 'Love and Other Cages'.
I did enjoy the book even though it was not at all what I expected.
I was expecting more romance, and that Mina and Oliver would actually reconnect at the end of the book like the blurb suggested.
"Can Oliver and Mina rewrite destiny's script? Is the radiant beacon of their blossoming connection bright enough to guide them through a world steeped in uncertainty? Or will they forever wander as seekers of the elusive symphony of joy?"
The book was well written and the pace was good, even though it began to feel a little repetitive in the middle with Mina being upset about her capture and Oliver just trying left and right to find her. I did find it really interesting how Mina's assignments led her to Oliver eventually, even though that was like the last 5 minutes of the book. The ending did feel a little abrupt but I am curious to see how they reconnect in the next part.
The narrators were really good, and I always like authors narrating their own stories. Ares did a wonderful job!
Thank you NetGalley for the ALC! ✨

3.7⭐️ I thought this was a love story but it had a big twist huney! I didn’t read the synopsis so I don’t know if it was said what this was really about! But it was a journey! That’s for sure! I believe in the beginning it was starting to blossom into a romance but because of the trauma this was becoming a love with trauma (if that makes sense) Overall, it was a decent read but didn’t like the ending too much but that could be because it’s YA!

Did not finish… I honestly don’t understand where the story is going and it’s kind of confusing…maybe I will give it a try in future but definitely not now

I didn’t realize this book is the second in the series until I was 4 hours from the end. Although it’s a really compelling story, I think it would have been more impactful had I realized and read book 1 first. At this point, I don’t know that I will go back, but it did end on quite the cliffhanger, so I will be watching out for book 3! As for the audiobook, I loved the narrators and thought it was really well done.

Many thanks to NetGalley for my review audio edition! I loved the duo narrators of Mina and Oliver…the accents were so good, too!

This read was intriguing and fast-paced; it left me hooked! I didn’t realize it was a second in series; it felt very much okay to read out of order. Hoping there will be a follow-up!

#LoveandOtherCages #NetGalley

I read this as a standalone although it is part of a series. I think maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first book and had developed a prior sense of the characters. I definitely would not recommend it to anyone as a standalone.

For me personally, the pacing was slow but again could be because I wasn’t vested in the characters. The FMC’s storyline was much more engaging than the MMC. When the story would switch to his POV, I found myself getting bored.

I would recommend anyone who is a fan of mafia storylines to go check out Love and Other Sins, which is book 1.

Mina leads a pretty intense life with some mystery in her past. Oliver, being a loving boyfriend is just trying to help Mina. This is a suspenseful love story that keeps the brain guessing what's going on.

First, a thank you to Netgalley, Sera Press, and the author for providing an ALC for the book
I have to say that the narrators were amazing and I was really immersed with Mira and Oliver

I have to be honest, when this came on my radar I thought it was a standalone. Starting it, I was confused at the beginning and had to do a search to know that it was the 2nd book.
Add to that, it ends with a cliffhanger
So it is advised to read in order
I did read the ebook of book 1

⚜ rating: 3.25 🌟🌟🌟 🔅
⚜Genre: Romantic Thriller
⚜Theme: Dark Thriller
⚜Targeted audience: 17+ (the dark themes inside are not suitable for a younger audience)
⚜Characters: Mira, Oliver
⚜Representation: minor side POC
⚜ driven: Character/Plot-driven
⚜Pace: Slow
⚜TW: violence, abduction, sexual assault, kidnapping, child-trafficking
⚜ tropes: secret identity, WITSEC, undercover
⚜ POV: first person double POV
⚜ spice: 0.5 🌶 closed door
⚜standalone: No
⚜Ending: cliffhanger
⚜Book read: ARC as audio

Let me start with what I didn't like

1- the long chapters: It felt like once I started a chapter it would not end.
2- The overly details: There were a lot of them and descriptions and inner monologuing that sometimes I had to skim
3- The blurb of the book: was a bit misleading cause it is done as if Oliver and Mira would reconnect after they are separated.
"Can Oliver and Mina rewrite destiny's script? Is the radiant beacon of their blossoming connection bright enough to guide them through a world steeped in uncertainty? Or will they forever wander as seekers of the elusive symphony of joy?

but 95% of the book, each was alone fighting their own way

Other than that, once I let go of the anticipation of romance, I was engrossed in reading about their struggle.
The book addressed a serious issue: "the kidnapping and grooming of children and young adults"

Mira was taken by an organization associated with her father that breaks and trains minors as spies.
Meanwhile, Oliver is trying to find her using his questionable connections.

Though I did enjoy this read, I do not think I was interested enough to continue the series.

PS: I was intrigued by the presence of an Arab character.

STARLING
Azra Kader
Ethnicity: Arab
Religion: Sunni Islam
Status: Refugee

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The author has a way of making it so that you feel as though you are right there with the characters and have known them your whole life.

This is a heavy story though - about not being able to get rid of your past and having troubles escaping the things you did when you were younger. Even though this was a heavy read, I am no invested and didn't want the story to end.

I recommend this book to anyone and will be pre-ordering a physical copy so that I can lend it out to my friends and family.

First time reader of this author and the ride I went on in reading was thrilling. I didn’t realize that this is the second book in a series but can also be read as a stand alone. Mina and her mother are attacked in their home due to Mina’s father’s criminal connections. Mina is then taken prisoner and forced to make choices to save her injured mother. In the meantime, her boyfriend, Oliver, searches the streets of LA for her, having no clue that Mina is another country being turned into another person entirely. The capture of Mina whose father is Russia brings about images of sex trafficking and mobs as well as others. Ironically this is not the case but will not give away the story. This book isn’t a romance to me. It’s more of a contemporary thriller. I did not like the Cliff hanging ending but definitely ready for the next in the series. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this audiobook.
I will say that I did enjoy the narrator’s (although Mina’s character was hard to get into because she sounded so pitiful, but that’s just the narrator doing her job) voices for the characters. I think they did the best they could with such insufferable characters.

The main issue many people have had with this book is that it’s so unrealistic it takes you out of the story and that was my issue as well. I actually thought Mina was a 10 year old girl in the opening scene, so not a high schooler. Imagine my surprise when I realize that wasn’t a flashback but something that just happened and I’m like.. why is this grown man talking to a child??

Wasn’t for me, but I think it could be for someone else.

I think it’s partially my fault that I didn’t realize this book was the second in a series, but it just didn’t grab me like I wanted it to. I did like the characters, and the overall story line was interesting, but there was a lot going on that was hard to keep track of, and the ending left me less than satisfied. I also listened to the audio book which isn’t my favorite way to read something, so maybe I would have liked it better otherwise!

A fantastic book to listen to had me on edge from start to finish.
Would definitely recommend this to friends and family a must download.

Love and Other Cages by Emilia Ares is a thriller that blends young adult romance with a mafia drama, but unfortunately it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. My understanding is that you can read this book as a standalone but maybe in my case I might benefit from readying book 1.


Thank you to NetGalley and SERA Press | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Audiobooks for this ARC.

This is the second book in this series, Love and Other Sins being the first book. I haven't read the first book and this was fine as a standalone, although I think reading book one would have given me the full experience.

I am lucky enough to have an ebook, audiobook and physical copy of the book. The audiobook is well narrated by the author and Will Collyer, each narrating alternative chapters as the book switches between Mina and Olivers POV. It is a nice listen. I thought the narrators brought the characters to life. 

The book jumps straight into the action with Mina trying to protect her mother. Soon Mina is abducted by some nefarious characters and Oliver wonders if he will ever see her again. The book switches between Oliver's relentless search for her and Mina's experience of captivity. I don't want to give too much away but the story was engaging. 

The book gets very dark in areas and has lots of twists and turns throughout. It is full of emotion and I think seeing each characters journey helped me to connect to them more. It is well written. The pacing fluctuates between action and a slower pace of the characters trying to figure things out.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read.